Table of Contents
What is stress incontinence?
We tend to think of stress incontinence as a condition that affects older people, but it can affect younger people too. Stress incontinence results from the sudden involuntary release of small amounts of urine (wee) when activity increases abdominal pressure and urges the bladder to release urine. The condition can result from several factors and is often seen in people who are frequently anxious. Stress incontinence may also occur when the sufferer is under tension or in certain types of depression.
Stress incontinence occurs typically after some period of activity in which there is little to no urine production. Usually, this is caused by muscle tension. The muscles responsible for the leak are relaxed during activity but, when the person gets out of bed or after sitting for prolonged periods, the muscles do not fully relax, and urine leaks out.
What causes stress incontinence?
There are many causes for this condition, but the most common is spinal injury. This condition can occur through accidents. Other reasons are bedsores or muscle spasms that tighten the urethra, resulting in insufficient urine flow and leakage. Urination and bladder control is challenging due to insufficient mobility of the legs and the inability to bend the lower body. This is why sleep aids and medications may be used to treat this condition. However, a doctor may recommend surgery if the urine leakage continues or is accompanied by pain.
How to treat stress incontinence
Stress incontinence has various treatments, and they include using medicines, like over-the-counter (OTC), anti-spasmodic and even anti-depressants. These are used to control the symptoms of the condition and prevent the person from experiencing further discomfort. Physical therapy is also recommended for patients with stress incontinence. Exercise and dietary changes may also help reduce the levels of stress incontinence that occurs in a person’s life. These measures, however, should be coupled with other forms of therapy to achieve optimum results.
Over-the-counter medications are safe for use by anyone. Some contain ingredients that may interact with other medicines or cause unpleasant side effects. These should not be used by pregnant women or individuals who have kidney or heart disease as these ingredients can result in side effects.
Before using any OTC medication to treat stress incontinence, you should consult your doctor to ensure that the treatment is safe for the individual in question.
There are many ways to manage stress incontinence. It is best to find the underlying cause for the condition and deal with it accordingly. Using special pillows and the addition of special ointments can help a person to manage their stress incontinence.
Regular urination and bathroom visits should, however, accompany them so that the condition does not get out of hand. By keeping a positive attitude and treating the problem as soon as it surfaces, many people find they can effectively manage their stress incontinence.
For more severe cases of stress incontinence there may be surgical options available for treatment. Surgical excision of the prostate gland is the most common surgical procedure used to treat this condition. There are three basic types of surgical excision procedures; namely transurethral, internal and external. This is the treatment used for patients that have excessive ejaculation and weak sphincter muscles. The results of these procedures can vary depending on each individual case and recovery time.
How to stop stress incontinence?
You can stop stress incontinence by engaging in various self-help activities.
Exercise
You need to engage in regular exercises. The types of exercise recommended are pelvic floor exercises. You must perform these exercises regularly for a minimum of three months before you can notice significant changes.
In addition to pelvic floor exercises, you must engage in other forms of exercise. Pilates is recommended because they toughen your core muscles, which are beneficial in preventing stress incontinence.
Weight loss
If you are overweight or obese, then you may need to lose weight. Excess fat can put pressure on the bladder and lead to incontinence. So reducing excess fat is beneficial in stopping stress incontinence.
Avoid being constipated
Constipation or difficulty passing stool can strain the pelvic floor and make incontinence worse. If you are frequently constipated, you may need to seek help from your doctor or health care professional on the best diet or treatment for you.
Stop smoking
Frequent cough from smoking can put pressure on the pelvic floor muscles, leading to incontinence. So, if you are a smoker, consider stopping smoking.
Avoid lifting heavy objects
Lifting heavy objects can put pressure on pelvic floor muscles. As much as possible, avoid lifting heavy objects. If you must lift something or someone, you may wish to tighten your pelvic muscles before doing so.
Reduce caffeine consumption
Drinking caffeine products, especially coffee, can worsen incontinence. So, stop drinking coffee. However, if you like the taste and aroma of the coffee, then it is advisable to switch to decaf coffee.
Try and avoid other caffeine products, including tea and carbonated drinks. Plain water is an excellent alternative. Herbal teas are reasonable alternatives as well.
Reduce alcohol consumption
Drinking alcohol leads to more frequent urination. If you are a drinker, then you may need to reduce your alcohol intake. Reducing alcohol may, in turn, reduce the severity of symptoms of incontinence.
Increase your water intake
Seek to regulate your daily fluid intake by drinking up to eight glasses of water daily. Insufficient fluid intake can cause constipation which is a source of incontinence. You might think that too much fluid may make your incontinence worse. But this is not necessarily true as drinking increases the capacity of your bladder to carry more fluid.
Eat correctly
Eat the right food and avoid those that can irritate your bladder. Acidic food, e.g., orange and lemon, must be avoided. Also, strive to reduce your intake of spicy food as this can worsen incontinence.
